Operation: Lorient (Mission #15), France

Date: 21st October 1942 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 414th Bombardment Squadron (H), 97th Bombardment Group (H), 8th Air Force (1)

Type: B-17F Johnny Reb

Serial: 42-24443

Code: Unknown

Base: Polebrook (Station #110), Northamptonshire, England

Location: Bay of Biscay about 16 km (10 mls) from shore.

Pilot: 1st Lt. Milton Marion ‘Milt’ Stenstrom DFC,O-431060 AAF Age 22. PoW *

Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Robert Leroy ‘Rob’ Carlberg O-442752 AAF Age 23. PoW *

Navigator: 1st Lt. Harold ‘Shorty’ Spire O-659022 AAF Age 26. Evader (2)

Bombardier: 1st Lt. Ewart Theodore ‘Sconnie’ Sconiers DSC, O-724270 AAF Age 26. PoW/Died * (3)

Engineer: S/Sgt. Roy Thomas Nalley 15067557 AAF Age 22. PoW ***

Radio Operator: S/Sgt. William Alonzo Adams 14030942 AAF Age 21. PoW ** (4)

Ball Turret Gnr: Sgt. William Ellsworth ‘Bill’ Schimke 16061443 AAF Age 23. PoW ***

Waist Gnr: Sgt. John Michael Hughes 12036569 AAF Age 21. PoW ***

Waist Gnr: Sgt. Thomas Caldwell ‘Tom’ Calhoun 34199059 AAF Age 24. PoW ***

Tail Gnr: Sgt. James Carlton ‘Jim’ Simmons DFC, 14055182 AAF Age 22. PoW ****

* Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland. (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser, Bavaria).

** Stalag 4 D/Z, Annaburg, Sachsen, Prussia.

*** Stalag 17B, Krems-Gneixendorf near Krems, Austria.

**** Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang, today situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Above: The B-17F 'Johnny Reb' 41-24443 crew on the 21st October 1942.

Back row left to right: 1st Lt. Milton M. Stenstrom, 1st Lt. Robert L. Carlberg, 1st Lt. Ewart T. Sconiers, 1st Lt. Harold Spire.

Bottom row left to right: Sgt. James C. Simmons, Sgt. Thomas C. Calhoun, S/Sgt. William A. Adams , Sgt. William E. Schimke, Sgt. John M. Hughes, S/Sgt. Roy T. Nalley. (Photo courtesy of Fredrick Richard "Rick" Flack and the American Air Museum)

REASON FOR LOSS:

The Johnny Reb took off at 11:00 hrs from Polebrook as part of a small force of 12 B-17s on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient in France.

Note: This raid was lead by Maj. Paul Tibbits who would later as a Col., captain the ‘Elona Gay’ which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. He retired from the USAF as a Brigadier-General in 1966.

Over the Breast peninsula just under the 13,000 ft cloud base, the formation flew through Flak and was attacked by Fw190A’s and Bf109F’s.

The OKL German fighter claims for the Reich & Western Front for the 21st October 1942 list two pilots from 8./JG 2 ‘Richthofen’ claiming a B-17 30 km south of Brest between 4000 and 200 m;

Uffz. Rudolf Eisele claiming his 3rd Abschuss and Fw. Walter Ebert claiming his 1st.

1st Lt. Spire and three others of the crew were wounded in the attacks which also knocked out one engine, the ball turret, the top turret, the intercom system and the elevator controls.

1st Lt. Sconiers salvoed the bombs and then baled out of the nose hatch. At 13:00 hrs they ditched the aircraft in the Bay of Biscay about 16 km (10 mls) from shore. The aircraft remained afloat for about 30 secs giving the crew time to escape.

1st Lt. Spire inflated his Mae West and paddled to the half-inflated large dingy which supported all the crew except for S/Sgt. Nalley who sat in his own small dingy.

Shots from S/Sgt. Nalley's pistol attracted a French fishing boat which picked them up but whose skipper declined to sail to England because he feared nearby Germans. He took them ashore and they were taken inland to Quimper in France where Germans sent 1st Lt. Spire and three other wounded to a big army-navy hospital 30 mins ambulance ride away. After 3 days of good medical treatment the four were sent to an army post infirmary.

Whilst there 1st Lt. Spire had a visit from a German Maj. who appeared in his room wearing a white coat. He handed him a ‘Red Cross’ form but 1st Lt. Spire knew better than to fill out more than his name, rank and serial number. The Maj. argued briefly but then left.

After 4 days in the infirmary, 1st Lt. Spire and his three injured crew members were sent to Dulag Luft, Oberursel guarded by three Luftwaffe personnel.

The 97th BG lost two other B-17s to Fw190s from 8./JG 2 and Stab III./JG2:

Oblt Armin Landman from 8./JG 2 claimed a B-17 6 km south of Plouescat at 4000m at 13:50 hrs. This is believed to be B-17F 41-24344 which crashed at Plouescat, Morlaix in France. (8 KiA, 2 PoW);

Uffz. Herbert Gumprecht, his 3rd Abschuss, and Oblt. Bruno Stolle, his 1st, from Stab III./JG2 claimed a fortress at Gradnetz 6827/14 West at 4000 m. to 5000 m. at 14:00 hrs. This is believed to be B-17F 41-24441 ’Francis X’. (6 KiA, 4 PoW).

Note: Gradnetz or Gradnetzmeldeverfahren (German Navy/Fighter Grid) 6827/14 West is in Bay of Biscay, 110 km (62¾ mls) SW of Brest, France

(1) The 97th Bombardment Group (BG) was assigned to the 8th Air Force on the 20th May 1942. On the 14th September 1942 the BG was assigned to the 12th Air Force but continued to operate under the command of the 8th Air Force. The main part the BG left Polebrook on the 18th of November 1942 for Hurn, prior to flying directly to North Africa. The ground unit sailed in convoy in late November 1942. The BG carried out operations in the Mediterranean theatre with the 12th Air Force for a year, then the BG was established in Italy as part of the 15th Air Force.

(2) 1st Lt. Spire was separated from the others, stripped, searched, dressed and placed into solitary confinement. A few days later, a man in civilian clothes proffered another ‘Red Cross’ form on which again he only provided his name, rank, serial number.

The next day two men in military uniform told 1st Lt. Spire a great deal about himself and his unit and its personnel, he neither confirmed nor denied anything. Two days before leaving, he asked for a doctor. A medical orderly attended him instead, efficiently removing stitches from his head wound. In total to this point he had been held for 10 days.

He was then transferred by train to Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia where he entered the East Compound on the 11th November 1942. He was transferred to the North Compound on the 28th March 1943 and then to the South Compound on the 8th September 1943.

On the 22nd April 1943, 1st Lt. Spire and a Flt Lt. Carter RNZAF, carried out an escape planned by Sqn Ldr. Roger Bushell, RAF.

They intended to reach Nazi occupied Poland where they could receive aid from friendly Poles at the Litzmannstadt Ghetto (Łódź Ghetto). Equipped with compasses, maps, money, civilian coats and caps, food and Hungarian workers papers, they hid in rubbish sacks and were carted out of the North Camp. Along the road to the German section of the camp, Flt Lt. Carter jumped out and ran into the woods but he was later captured. Near the entrance to the German Camp, 1st Lt. Spire also fled, however, he was seen by two German guards and was caught. He was sentenced to 14 days solitary confinement in the camp guardhouse.

His next attempt to escape was on the on the 6th February 1943 when he hid in a truck under potatoes, straw and wood. After the truck left the South Camp he ran through the woods, circled and found himself in the Sagan railway station. As he tried to leave the station an attendant asked for his ticket. 1st Lt. Spire showed his Hungarian worker's papers and explained that his uncle who was had been on the train had forgotten to give him his ticket. The attendant allowed him to pass. That night he slept in the cold, snow-blanketed woods and set out the set morning. On the road near Łozy, some 14 km (9 mls) south of Sagan, he met a Polish worker, confessed he was an American and received directions to the railroad station where he bought a ticket and caught the train to Görlitz, some 47 km (29 mls) to the SW of Łozy.

Here he attempted to buy a ticket to Vienna but he discovered he lacked the fare. A German Military Policeman (MP) asked for his papers and found them in order. 1st Lt. Spire tried to borrow 10 German marks and the MP led him to a baggage agent who advanced him 15 German marks against the watch which he promised to redeem within two weeks. The rest of the night he sipped coffee at a table with several Germans and then slept in the station.

The express train to Vienna left at 11:00 hrs the next day and at the border of the Protectorate of Czechoslovakia the train stopped. A conductor examined his papers and moved him to another car which was kept locked while going through the Protectorate. Two evacuees from Berlin shared their bread rolls and butter with him. To return the favour he carried their bags through the Vienna station, thus avoiding a check by the guard. Since 1st Lt. Spire could not sleep in the station without a ticket the two evacuees took him to another station, where the attendant refused to admit him without a ticket. A few moments later, a drunken, friendly German soldier volunteered to get him a bed at his armoury. Unable to gain admission, they returned to the station through an unlocked door.

The soldier confessed he was anti-Nazi and somewhat of a Communist. 1st Lt. Spire went to sleep and at 06:30 hrs a Gestapo agent woke him with a tap on the shoulder. He showed his papers and said he was waiting for his uncle to meet him. One of his papers stated that he was a Hungarian worker whose detailed papers were at the workers’ headquarters with a second paper granting him two weeks leave in Vienna. The Gestapo agent appeared to be satisfied and went on his way.

Wary, tired and hungry 1st Lt Spire left the station and walked around Vienna until he came to a Catholic church. He was sitting in the vestibule when two elderly women approached him gave him a white bread roll. He took the chance and told them that he was an American whereupon they gave him more food and left hurriedly.

After he had finished eating he went next door to the priest's house and revealed his identity. The priest took him in provided hot water for shaving and washing and fed him before him directions. However, he missed the railroad station and then took a tram toward Bratislavia, some 55 km (34 mls) to the east. That night he slept in a haystack and then continued east on foot until 15:00 hrs when he came to a village. At the first house he reached, he asked for water. Its tenant was friendly until 1st Lt. Spire said he was an American.

However, his luck ran out because the German told him that he was a Policeman. He took 1st Lt. Spire to an army guardhouse for the night. The following morning he was taken to taken to Stalag 17A, Kaisersteinbruch in Austria, and put in solitary confinement. For the next 9 days he was questioned by Wehrmacht personnel about his identity and helpers after which he was escorted back to Stalag Luft 3 by two Luftwaffe guards.

In February 1945, 1st Lt. Spire and 1st Lt. Vogtle obtained permission to make another escape attempt. Each morning at 07:00 hrs, the German sentry at the gate of the American compound admitted an Unteroffizier (Cpl) and several British PoWs in delivering hot water. On the 25th February it was pre-planned for the British group arrived at 06:00 one hour before the Unteroffizier. After an argument the guard decided to admit them, cautioning them not to mix with the Americans inside. He did not notice that the group which came out was larger by two as it included the two Americans who were wearing British uniforms.

1st Lt. Alvin W. Vogtle Jr. Silver Star, O-387342, 52nd Fighter Group, 4th Fighter Squadron, 12th Air Force.

On 3rd January 1943 1st Lt. Vogtle Jr., Capt. James Garvey and 1st Lt. Robert Rivers took off from Orleansville in Spitfire Vs to carry a special evacuation message to Bone, Algeria. Strong tail winds caused them to overshoot their destination. 1st Lt. Vogtle Jr., running low of fuel landed in field near Mateur in Tunisia and struck a ditch. He joined Capt. Garvey who had landed nearby but were they were captured.

Capt. James E. Garvey O-430804, PoW Stalag Luft 3; 1st Lt. Robert W. Rivers O-432209, PoW Stalag 7A.

They spent that day in the open work compound, obtaining French overcoats, hats and Army musette bags. At night they sneaked unnoticed into the Serb barracks. The next day, seeing that they had been covered at roll call in their own compound, they gave false PoW numbers and joined 2,000 workers loaded on a train for a day's work clearing debris in Munich. During the morning, 1st Lt. Vogtle found an unlocked door leading out of the building in which his group of 10 was working. After lunch, while their guard was momentarily distracted by an unwitting accomplice the two slipped out through the door.

Air raid sirens sounded and whilst some civilians and the PoWs went to shelters the two Americans and managed to walk to the NW outskirts of the city before a German soldier on a bicycle stopped them and asked for their papers and their guard’s whereabouts. They quickly replied they were going to a Herr Pieper’s farm; Pieper was the name of a guard at Stalag Luft 3. They persuaded the guard to let them go ahead and be in their quarters by the time the farmer checked on their presence, thus averting the charge of AWOL.

The soldier looked at the food in their musette bags and inexplicably cycled away. As soon as they were a safe distance away from the guard they ran into some woods. That night the two slept in a field near Plangg, which is some 11 km (7 mls) west of the city centre.

The next day they came across some men around a truck south of Starnberg, which is some 13 km (8 mls) to the south of Palngg. After waiting until they heard the men speak French, they revealed themselves as escaped PoWs. The French fed them, transported them to the Weilheim region, some 23 km (14½ mls) to the SW, and directed them to a hiding place. At a prearranged time, a man and two boys arrived and provided food, French civilian clothing and also train tickets to Schongau which is 19 km (12 mls) west of Weilheim in Oberbayern. Arriving there, 1st Lt. Vogtle preferred to try the rest of the way solo and they parted ways.

He missed the 04:30 hrs train out of Schongau but caught the 13:00 hrs to Landsberg am Lech. From there he rode third class to Augsburg and walked the 3 km (2 mls) to the Augsburg-Oberhhausen railway station to try and by ticket to Ulm, some 65 km (40 mls) to the west.

Lacking special authorization for a journey of over 50 kms (31 mls) he slept in the station until 06:00 hrs. The next morning walked past ZIietmethausen, 28 km (17½ mls) to the west that day and spent the night in some woods.

At noon the next day he headed out in south-westerly direct to Singen. He covered some 332 km (206 mls) passing through Krumbach, Memmingen, Kißlegg, Aulendorf, Pfullendorf and where he looked in vain for the house to which he had been directed.

Unable to find the house he decided to try to cross the Swiss boarder unaided. Enroute he was stopped and questioned by an old man who was satisfied with his stock answer that he was visiting his uncle. A short while later he asked a small girl where he was and was told that he was in Switzerland. He subsequently concluded that he had crossed the border at about 14:15 hrs on the 4th March. He walked a further 2 km (1¼ mls) to a hotel in Ramsen and asked the proprietor to summon the police to take charge of an American PoW escaped from Germany.

Sympathetic police interrogated him and then delivered him to the Schauffhausen police for overnight lodging in a hotel. At noon the following day he obtained unofficial permission from a police Capt. to telephone the US Consul General in Zurich. Swiss Military Police (MP) escorted him to the American Legation where he met up again with 1st Lt. Vogtle.

On the 7th March they joined some 150 internees who crossed the French border at Annermasse which is some 7½ mls (4¾ km) east of Geneva, Switzerland. He was interviewed on the 9th March 1945.

(3) After the obligatory visit to Dulag Luft in Oberusal for interrogation 1st Lt. Sconiers was transferred to Stalag Luft 3 on the 11th November 1942.

One winters day in late 1943 whilst out walking 1st Lt. Sconiers slipped on the ice and fell onto a shaft of splintered wood which lodged in his ear. Weeks later, he started displaying symptoms of mental illness, becoming paranoid and hard to control. With no antibiotic drugs in the camp, the ear infection turned deadly. He exhibited symptoms synonymous with “going around the bend,” or “barbed wire fever,” as the men called it.

One of his roommates, Padre MacDonald, the beloved chaplain from Scotland, tried to hide him in the barracks to protect him from the Germans. But whilst the Padre was conducting another funeral outside the camp, the Germans, who could no longer handle him, took him away on the 9th January 1944 and he was admitted the Reserve hospital in Lübin (Lubin), which was about an hours train ride from the camp.

Rev. Murdo Ewen MacDonald 123998 Royal Army Chaplin Department (R.A,Ch.D), PoW No. 42683, Stalag Luft 3. He served as Chaplin with the 1st Parachute Brigade and was wounded and taken prisoner on the 1st December 1942 during “Operation Torch” in North Africa. At Stalag Luft 3 he was involved in preparations for the “Great Escape”. He acted as a Chaplin to the USAAF PoWs and was awarded the Bronze Star medal for his inspiring leadership and example.

On his camp ID card, the Germans wrote that he died of schizophrenia on the 24th January 1944 at the hospital in Lubin, but other German documents mention pneumonia, and yet others record that a heart attack as the cause of death.

Lt Col. Clark, the Senior American Officer (SAO) at Stalag Luft 3, Col. Goodrich, the SAO of the South Compound, Col. Spivey, the SAO of the Centre Compound, Maj. Wheeler and 1st Lt. Stenstrom his pilot, escorted by German guards boarded a train for Lubin. For the Americans this was their first time out from behind barbed wire. The group attended 1st Lt. Sconiers’ funeral on the 27th January 1944 in the municipal cemetery in Lubin with Padre MacDonald officiating the ceremony.

Above: lowering 1st Lt Ewart Sconiers' coffin at the Lubin municipal cemetery on the 27th January 1944. From left to right: 1st Lt. Milton M. Stenstrom, Col. Delmar T. Spivey, Lt Col. Albert P. Clark and Maj. Clermont E. Wheeler. (Photo courtesy of Edouard Reniere and the American Air Museum).

The burial of 1st Lt. Ewart Sconiers at the Lubin municipal cemetery on the 27th January 1944. Officiating on the left is "Padre Mac", Murdo Ewen Macdonald; behind him are a German officer and a guard; 4th from left is Col. Charles G. Goodrich. The men standing near the coffin are, from left to right Lt. Col. Albert P. Clark, 1st Lt. Milton M. Stenstrom, Maj. Clermont E. Wheeler and Col. Delmar T. Spivey. (Photo courtesy of Edouard Reniere and the American Air Museum).

Lt Col. Albert P. Clark O-020218. Spitfire VB, EN784, 412 (Falcon) Sqn, RCAF. Baled out on the 26th July 1942 over France. He was the 31st Fighter Group, Executive Officer and was the first 8th Air Force fighter pilot to become a PoW;

Col. Charles Grant Goodrich O-017166. 81st Bombardment Squadron (M), 12th Bombardment Group (M), 12th Air Force. His B-25 Mitchell was one of three that failed to return from a mission to Sidi Amish, Egypt on the 14th September 1942;

Col. Delmar Taft Spivey O-017278. 407th Bombardment Group (H), 92nd Bombardment Group (H), 8th Air Force. He was an Observer aboard B-17F 42-30081 ‘USS Aliquippa’ which made a forced landing about 3 miles from the target on the 12th August 1943 (11 PoWs);

Maj. Clermont Edward ‘Pudgie’ Wheeler O-393741. Commanding Officer of the 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, 12th Air Force. His P-40K was shot down on the 10th November 1942 over North Africa.

Efforts to retrieve 1st Lt. Sconiers’ remains after the war were impossible because of the subsequent political situation. He remained listed as Missing in Action (MiA) and he was the last Stalag Luft 3 PoW not to have been brought home. However, new hopes were raised in August 2015, when grave 908, marked "Sconiers Edouard 1939-1945" was miraculously located at the French Military cemetery in Gdansk, Poland.

The remains were disinterred in 2016 and sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) laboratory for analysis. The analysis together with circumstantial evidence confirmed that the remains were those of 1st Lt. Sconiers.

A memorial service for 1st Lt. Sconiers was carried out at 11:00 hrs on the 27th January 2018 at the Southwest Baptist Church in his hometown of DeFuniak Springs and he was laid to rest, with full military honors next, to his mother. The date marks the anniversary of the date he was first buried by fellow PoWs in what is now Allies Park in Lubin, Poland.

On the 21st August 1942 the 8th Air Force mounted its 3rd overall mission against the shipyards in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The original Johnny Reb, B-17F 41-9089 of the 414th Bombardment Squadron (H), 97th Bombardment Group (H), lagged behind the formation and became easy prey for German Fw190s. A cannon shell went through the right windscreen and the Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt. Donald A. Walter, was killed instantly. The cockpit was wrecked, the top turret was blown out and pilot 2nd Lt. Richard S. Starks was severely wounded, in the chest, an arm and legs and his hands badly burned. His mask had been knocked off and lacking oxygen, barely conscious, he managed to call 2nd Lt. Sconiers on the radio.

Coming to the cabin he quickly sized up the situation, he put 2nd Lt. Starks' mask back on, pulled the body of the co-pilot from the seat and controls and took his place. 2nd Lt. Sconiers had washed out during his Pilot primary training and had gone back to civilian life before joining again as a Bombardier. Now at the controls he noticed that two engines were losing power as he flew the stricken plane in sight of the coast of England. Struggling with the controls, trying to manage the gyrocompass and stabilize the air speed, advised by 2nd Lt. Starks, 2nd Lt. Sconiers finally managed to bring the plane safely back, landing at Horsham St Faith. The story made the headlines all over the US as well as in the United Kingdom.

Both 2nd Lt. Richard S. Starks O-431059 and 2nd Lt. Sconiers were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) in a ceremony at Polebrook airfield on the 17th September 1942.

Above left to right: 2nd Lt. Ewart T. Sconiers, 2nd Lt. Richard S. Starks and 1st Lt. Frank R. Beadle, taking a look at Richard Starks' Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) after the awards ceremony at Polebrook on the 12th September 1942. Starks still wears a bandage on his right hand. (Photo courtesy of Edouard Reniere the American Air Museum)

Note: 1st Lt. Frank R. Beadle O-724112, DFC (OLC), Air Medal (10 OLC)

(4) S/Sgt. Adams was reported to have been wounded. His wounds were severe enough, after having been treated, to be sent to Stalag 4 D/Z. This was a small Allied PoW camp located in the eastern German town of Annaburg which lies 19¼ km (12 mls) north of Torgau and about 48¼ km (30 mls) NE of Leipzig. It was a sub-camp of Stalag 4D in Torgau and was used for holding PoWs who were to be repatriated in PoW exchanges.

Above: Repatriation of S/Sgt. Adams courtesy of The Greenville News, dated 19th September 1944.

S/Sgt. Adams was repatriated to the United States aboard the ‘SS Gripsholm’ which sailed from Gothenurg (Göteborg) in Sweden on the 10th September 1944 for Liverpool in England, expected to arrived on the 17th September and then onto New York expected to arrive on the 26th September 1944.

Above: Obituary for William Alonzo Adams courtesy of The Greenville News, 4th February 1997

William Alonzo Adams: 21st May 1921 - 3rd February 1997

Burial details:

Above: Grave marker for 1st Lt. Ewart T. Sconiers (Courtesy of Wanda Hewett Jewell - FindAGrave)

1st Lt. Ewart Theodore Sconiers. DSC, Air Medal, Purple Heart. Tablets of the Missing, Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. His recovered remains were repatriated and laid to rest at the Southwest Baptist Church Cemetery in Walton County, Florida. Born on the 29th November 1915 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Son of Warren William and Almond Maude (née Spence) Sconiers. Husband to Ina Bobelle (née Wright) Sconiers of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, USA.

His name is permanently engraved on the Walls of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. When an individual’s remains have been accounted for by the US Department of Defense, a rosette is placed next to the name on the Wall/Tablet/Court of the Missing to mark that the person now rests in a known gravesite.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew.

Other sources listed below:

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt